Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
3.11 More Dangerous Creatures
"What kind of men would steal food, a raptor's head and kidnap Connor?"
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Danny looked at Cutter in surprise. The young Professor was standing with his arm wrapped around Helen, holding her close. The woman herself was smiling happily and leaning her head on Cutter's shoulder. For the first time, Danny saw Helen looking relaxed and content.
"In my time," explained Danny "Lester is technically your boss."
"Technically?" laughed Helen.
Danny shrugged. "Lester is the senior government representative… keeps the minister informed, the public uninformed, that sort of stuff," he explained. "Cutter was the scientific team leader originally, but we've separated out those roles… now he is the scientific research lead and I'm field team leader."
"I thought you said you were a constable," asked Nick "why would I willingly step down from leading the field team on the most exciting paleontological expeditions the world has ever seen?"
Too late Danny remembered he had introduced himself as a copper. Cutter was looking at Danny suspiciously. Would the truth of the matter help, or make things worse?
"You didn't step down," explained Danny. "Lester put me in the role of field team leader when you were hospitalized."
"Hospitalized?" gasped Helen. "What happened to Nick?"
Pointing at the cairn behind the couple, Danny spoke. "That Helen shot him."
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Lester sighed. The group of people crowded into the Cutter's living room was all talking at once. He should have brought a referee whistle.
"Whether the anomaly map works or not isn't important," said Lester quietly. "There's one thing we all agree on. None of us want the military running the ARC."
Cutter, Claudia, Sarah, Becker and Jamal all nodded at his words. Vivian was standing at the rear of the room, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. At his questioning look, she nodded too.
"The minister is questioning the ability of the ARC to maintain public security," continued Lester "in the face of our most recent disasters."
"You mean losing Abby, Connor and Danny," exclaimed Cutter.
"That," replied Lester nodding in agreement, "in addition to losing Percy, Stephen and Leek."
"Percy left," reminded Sarah "of his own accord. Just because no one can find him doesn't mean he's lost in an anomaly."
At Becker's stern look, she tossed her hair back and added "Well it doesn't."
"Leek?" asked Claudia "Why is he included? He was a traitor, trying to destroy the ARC."
"Yes," sighed Lester "but he was a government employee at the time of his death… it really goes against health and safety to lose anyone… even Leek."
"All we've got to do," said Cutter in his rolling brogue "is to wait until tomorrow 9:42 PM… the Hyde Park anomaly opens and some of our team returns…"
Vivian straightened up in surprise at Cutter's words.
"Nighttime?" she asked in surprise "They came back in broad daylight in my history… followed by a spinosaurus. Sort of difficult to cover up… it was the first time anomalies were made public. The picture was in all the history books and on the cover of Temporal Theory 101."
"I don't know anything about your history or any of your books," answered Cutter "but my prediction is for 9:42 PM and I really hope Abby and Connor don't bring back a spinosaurus."
Becker frowned at his cell phone. He typed a quick response to the text and snapped the phone shut.
"We may have another problem," Becker said. "I just got a text from Worthington. Our security teams have been recalled. They're being replaced by Christine Johnson's men."
"Well," said Lester in the sudden silence "that probably means we are all out of a job."
"They can't fire us all!" exclaimed Sarah.
"Hmmph," said Lester rolling his eyes. "You would be surprised at what the government will do."
"Well," said Cutter "I hate to bring this meeting to a close, but my wife and I need a good nights sleep. We may have work tomorrow. Or if not, we'll be going for a picnic at Hyde Park."
"Right," said Lester "sounds like a plan. Tomorrow then."
He and Vivian put on their coats and headed towards the door. He stopped for a moment.
"Does anyone need a ride?"
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Abby slowed her pace as the sun lowered. She had been following the stone roadway for nearly an hour, but in the dimming light she feared tripping. She hoped that whoever had taken Connor would stop their journey for the night.
Stars were starting to come out when Abby caught up to the kidnappers. In the distance, she could see a small clearing. The cart was pulled off to the nearest side of the grassy space. Beside it a large creature appeared settled for the night. Closer to the edge of the road, a large fire was blazing making it difficult to see what was in the shadows beyond.
Cautiously, Abby stepped off the road and into the tree line. She wanted to remain hidden while checking out the camp. A few steps further into the woods gave her a different view. On the far side of the clearing, Abby could see a man grooming a horse. The saddle and other equipment were piled beside him.
Abby crept closer to the encampment. A gaunt man was kneeling in front of two people who appeared to be tied to a tree. The kneeling man jerked and pulled a mottled piece of cloth away from one of the prisoners.
"Ow!" exclaimed Connor "What did you do that for?"
Abby grinned in relief at the sound of Connor's voice. The gaunt man rose from his position and moved towards the blazing fire. He threw the cloth into the fire and turned to call out to the man nearest the horse. The man nodded and put down the brush. He reached into the pile of equipment near the saddle and held up a scabbard. The man withdrew a short flat bladed sword. Abby watched as the man carried the sword to the fire. He thrust it into the flames and then returned to the horse.
A third man, bigger than the other two, and wearing chain mail armor came out of the woods near where Connor and the other person were tied to the tree. Abby stepped closer trying to see Connor. Right now her plan, if you could call it that, was to wait for everyone to fall asleep and then creep up and free Connor.
Connor looked pale. He was sitting on the leafy ground. Ropes around his chest pulled tight against his black jacket. Where Abby had cut the lower part of his pants leg off, his calf appeared streaked with blood again as if she had never washed and bandaged it. Tied to the next tree, Abby was surprised to see a dark haired woman in a green dress. The gaunt man took the short sword from the fire, inspected it briefly, and then thrust it back into the flames.
Abby was so intent on watching the encampment that she didn't realize a fourth man was near her until he grabbed her by the wrist and started dragging her forward. The man in the long brown robe called out to the others.
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Connor saw the monk dragging Abby towards the firelight.
"Abby!" he called, struggling against the ropes binding him to the tree.
"Connor!" cried Abby as she tried to pull free of the monk. The tonsured man stopped and wrapped both arms around her, holding her struggling body firmly in place.
The big armored man knelt down beside Connor. One heavy hand pushed Connor's chest back against the tree trunk. The big man spoke sharply. The gaunt man nodded and withdrew the short sword from the fire. He looked at it and nodded in satisfaction. He then turned to face Connor.
Abby watched in horror as the gaunt man walked the few short steps needed to bring him to Connor.
"What are you doing?" she screamed.
The man knelt down in front of Connor. Abby could see Connor's face. His eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Abby," cried Connor "save yourself."
Connor tried to kick out at the kneeling man, but the big armored man grabbed Connor's leg with his free hand and held it flat on the ground. The gaunt man leaned forward with the short sword, pressing the blade against Connor's calf.
Abby and Connor both screamed.
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